First Minister Nicola Sturgeon led Scotland’s clap for key workers on the 72nd anniversary of the National Health Service.
She tweeted: “Happy 72nd Birthday, NHS. Thank you for everything.”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson and #ClapForCarers founder Annemarie Plas also applauded the efforts of healthcare workers from the doorstep of Number 10, while Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer applauded from his home in Kentish Town, north London, at 5pm on Sunday.
The Prince of Wales paid tribute ahead of the event, which it is hoped will become an annual tradition.
Mr Johnson met NHS workers in the Number 10 garden on Sunday afternoon, while public buildings including the Royal Albert Hall, Blackpool Tower and the Shard were lit up blue in tribute to the health service.
Scottish Government buildings in Edinburgh also took part.
The nationwide clap had been organised following a letter from the Together coalition, in which influential figures including NHS chief executive Sir Simon Stevens and the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby voiced their support for making July 5 an official day of commemoration.
Captain Sir Tom Moore, the 100-year-old who raised millions of pounds for the NHS, was among those who shared a video of himself clapping for the health service.
Workers at Glasgow Central and Edinburgh Waverley railway stations also briefly paused from their duties to take part in the applause.
Prince Charles said: “The current pandemic means that the NHS – and the entire country – has been through the most testing time in the service’s history.
“Our remarkably selfless nurses, doctors, paramedics and countless other staff have made costly sacrifices to provide treatment for more than 100,000 patients with coronavirus and thousands more who needed other care.
“And, in tribute to them, we have come together as a nation to thank them for their skill, professionalism and dedication.”
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